Creating Your ResumCreating Your Resuméé

Dan SolarekDan Solarek

Myrna RudderMyrna Rudder

What is a ResumWhat is a Resumé?é?

Critical tool in your co-op, part-time or Critical tool in your co-op, part-time or full-time job search full-time job search

A summary of your qualifications and A summary of your qualifications and experienceexperience

A brief document that communicates A brief document that communicates enough information to an employer to enough information to an employer to elicit further interestelicit further interest

PURPOSE: The main purpose of a resuméé is to get you an interview!

Building Your ResumBuilding Your Resuméé

The Art of Selling You!The Art of Selling You!

A resumA resuméé is like a is like a commercial, it lets commercial, it lets an employer know an employer know about your best about your best qualities.qualities.

ResumResuméé Tips Tips

Pay attention to detailPay attention to detail

ProofreadProofread

OrganizeOrganize

Clear and to the pointClear and to the point

Legibility Legibility

One PageOne Page

Include all work experienceInclude all work experience

Basic ResumBasic Resuméé Elements Elements

Career / Educational ObjectiveCareer / Educational Objective

EducationEducation

Computer SkillsComputer Skills

Experience / AccomplishmentsExperience / Accomplishments

Honors / AwardsHonors / Awards

Collegiate Activities / Community ActivitiesCollegiate Activities / Community Activities

ReferencesReferences

Career / Educational ObjectiveCareer / Educational Objective

Should answer two questions:Should answer two questions: What do you want?What do you want? Why do you want it?Why do you want it?

Should be focusedShould be focused Short and ConciseShort and Concise The ‘2’ Second rule!The ‘2’ Second rule!

Your EducationYour Education

The High School Dilemma!The High School Dilemma!

What is Needed?What is Needed? The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio. August 1997 - PresentAugust 1997 - Present Bachelor of Science, _____ Engineering TechnologyBachelor of Science, _____ Engineering Technology Anticipated Graduation DateAnticipated Graduation Date

ExtrasExtras The Great GPA DebateThe Great GPA Debate Should I list every class I ever took?Should I list every class I ever took? Scholastic Honors, Awards & ScholarshipsScholastic Honors, Awards & Scholarships

Work ExperienceWork Experience

What are Employers Looking For?What are Employers Looking For? General work experienceGeneral work experience

Does this person have a good work ethic?Does this person have a good work ethic?Customer Service Skills / Interpersonal SkillsCustomer Service Skills / Interpersonal SkillsTeamwork skills / “Likability” IndexTeamwork skills / “Likability” Index

Professional ExperienceProfessional ExperienceThe Power of ThreeThe Power of ThreeThe Use of BulletsThe Use of BulletsUtilizing Action WordsUtilizing Action Words

Some Examples of Action WordsSome Examples of Action Words

AccomplishedAccomplished

AnalyzedAnalyzed

AchievedAchieved

CoordinatedCoordinated

ContributedContributed

DelegatedDelegated

DesignedDesigned

DevisedDevised

EnhancedEnhanced

EstablishedEstablished

FormulatedFormulated

GeneratedGenerated

ImplementedImplemented

SupervisedSupervised

TrainedTrained

ResearchedResearched

Job Description ExampleJob Description Example

For more than one job entry:For more than one job entry: Order with most recent at topOrder with most recent at top Repeat format with blank line between positionsRepeat format with blank line between positions

Professional Job DescriptionProfessional Job Description

For more than one job entry:For more than one job entry: Order with most recent at topOrder with most recent at top Repeat format with blank line between positionsRepeat format with blank line between positions

Collegiate ActivitiesCollegiate Activities

Why is this necessary?Why is this necessary?

What is Important?What is Important?

The MessageThe Message

Collegiate Activities ExampleCollegiate Activities Example

Order with most recent activities at topOrder with most recent activities at top

Include dates where appropriateInclude dates where appropriate

List positions and responsibilitiesList positions and responsibilities

ResumResuméé Extras Extras

Personal Strengths / Special SkillsPersonal Strengths / Special Skills Superior Time Management SkillsSuperior Time Management Skills Excellent listening skills and the ability to Excellent listening skills and the ability to

interact with othersinteract with others Well developed written and oral Well developed written and oral

communication skillscommunication skills

Community ActivitiesCommunity Activities

What not to include:What not to include:

ReferencesReferences

Available upon requestAvailable upon request

Whom should I ask to be my references?Whom should I ask to be my references? Employers and ProfessorsEmployers and Professors Co-Workers and Family FriendsCo-Workers and Family Friends

How many references should I have?How many references should I have?

Separate piece of paperSeparate piece of paper Name, Address and Telephone Number/EmailName, Address and Telephone Number/Email Company and Title of IndividualCompany and Title of Individual

Make sure to call those you have chosenMake sure to call those you have chosen

ReferencesReferences

Use a format Use a format similar to that similar to that shown at right for shown at right for each of your each of your referencesreferences

Make certain that Make certain that email addresses email addresses are accurateare accurate

All references must All references must have agreed to have agreed to serveserve

Paper and LayoutPaper and Layout

Paper weight:Paper weight: Use matching paper for resumUse matching paper for resuméés and cover letters s and cover letters

(rag bond, textured, etc.)(rag bond, textured, etc.)

Color:Color: Use white, off-white, tan, beige, or light gray to Use white, off-white, tan, beige, or light gray to

achieve a professional, businesslike appearanceachieve a professional, businesslike appearance

Spacing: Spacing: Center your resumCenter your resuméé on the page leaving adequate on the page leaving adequate

“white space.” Make sure top and bottom margins are “white space.” Make sure top and bottom margins are equal.equal.

A Convincing ResumA Convincing Resuméé

The four “ C’s ”The four “ C’s ” CompleteComplete ConciseConcise ConsistentConsistent CorrectCorrect

Proofread carefully and proofread again!Proofread carefully and proofread again!A simple error can cause your resumA simple error can cause your resuméé to be recycled! to be recycled!

CCCCCCCC

Resume DosResume Dos

DO think of your resumDO think of your resuméé as an ad for your as an ad for your qualifications, not an autobiography.qualifications, not an autobiography.DO begin each bullet point with a verb. DO begin each bullet point with a verb. DO include paid and unpaid experience to DO include paid and unpaid experience to demonstrate the range of what you’ve done. demonstrate the range of what you’ve done. DO show the reader why you’re a good match DO show the reader why you’re a good match for a particular job. for a particular job. DO make several resumDO make several resuméés, with each one s, with each one targeting a particular field or company. targeting a particular field or company. DO look at other resumDO look at other resuméés to see how they are s to see how they are written. written.

Resume Dos (2)Resume Dos (2)

DO use reverse chronology (the most recent DO use reverse chronology (the most recent position is your first entry) to organize your position is your first entry) to organize your education and experience. education and experience.

DO format your resumDO format your resuméé clearly. clearly.

DO proofread many times.DO proofread many times.

DO ask others to look at your resumDO ask others to look at your resuméé. .

DO come to the Co-op Office for a critique. DO come to the Co-op Office for a critique.

DO remember that most employers will only look DO remember that most employers will only look at your resumat your resuméé for 15-30 seconds. for 15-30 seconds.

Resume Don’tsResume Don’ts

DON’T make your reader dig for information.DON’T make your reader dig for information.DON’T tell everything you’ve ever done. DON’T tell everything you’ve ever done. DON’T use complete sentencesDON’T use complete sentencesDON’T include personal information, such as DON’T include personal information, such as age, race, marital or health status. age, race, marital or health status. DON’T make your resumDON’T make your resuméé too dense, busy or too dense, busy or cute. cute. DON’T use a font smaller than 10 point.DON’T use a font smaller than 10 point.DON’T use fancy fonts that are hard to read. DON’T use fancy fonts that are hard to read.

Key Aspects of a Key Aspects of a Successful Job SearchSuccessful Job Search

AssertivenessAssertivenessPlanningPlanningActiveActiveSelf-AwarenessSelf-AwarenessAsk for HelpAsk for HelpDon’t FearDon’t FearPerseverancePerseveranceDon’t Give UpDon’t Give Up